Hydraulic disruption of solids



Get. 8, 1940. F Q T 2,217,369

HYDRAULIC DISRUPTION OF SOLIDS Filed May 18, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.5

Oct. 8, 1940.

W. F. COURT HYDRAULIC DISRUPTION OF SOLIDS Filed May 18. 1938 mum 3Sheets-Sheet 2 vvv lnvenror: William Fgederick Courf By his Anornegz;

Gd. 8, 1949. F CQURT 2,217,360

HYDRAULIC DISRUPTION OF SOLIDS Filed May 1a, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet sInvenror: William ederick Courr.

By his Afiorneg; m

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 HYDRAULIC DISRUPTION F SOLIDS William FrederickCourt, Webster Groves, Mo., assignor to Shell Development Company, SanFrancisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1938,Serial N0. 208,711

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the hydraulic disruption of solid massesbymeans of water jets which are directed substantially radiallyoutwardly from a well in the mass, and is particularly concerned with animproved nozzle head which is suitable for that purpose. Such a nozzlehead is useful in the removal of solids, like coke, from vessels, butmay be employed for other purposes.

In my copending application, Serial No. 191,685, filed February 21,1938, of which this is a continuation-in-part, I have describedparticularly a process for cleaning vessels which contain solids, likecarbonaceous material, particularly deposits of coke produced by thecarbonization of hydrocarbon oils, such as reaction and coking chambersemployed in petroleum cracking plants and the like, and asphalticmaterial, especially the solid, brittle kind, by means of water jets.According to one embodiment of the process the body of material to beremoved, such as coke in a vertical cylindrical coking chamber, is actedupon in three operations:

In the first step, 'after opening the top and bottom manholes andcooling the coke by means of steam followed by water, the body of cokeis cannulated vertically, either by drilling or by means of avertically, preferably downwardly, directed jet of water, such as, forexample, a jet discharged from a spear nozzle with a or one inchdiameter orifice, supported by and supplied through a vertical waterfeed pipe, and discharging water at between 400 and 750 gallons perminute. When water is used, the fine particles of coke'displaced aredifiused into the body of the coke bed, and the water drains through thecoke, discharging through the lower manhole. In this step a verticalhole from one to several inches in diameter is formed through the cokebed'at the axis of the chamber. The purpose of this step is to provide atubular opening or well to permit a water feed pipe, which is suspendedand supplied with water at its upper end, and supports the nozzle heademployed in the subsequent steps, to be lowered through the body of thecoke.

In the second step the opening is reamed to increase the size of theinitial opening to about 18 to '24 inches in diameter so that the nozzlehead employed in the last step may be used without fouling the coke bed.For this purpose the water feed pipe, which after the, jetting in thefirst step is suspended within the coke bed, is lowered to extendthrough 'the lower manhole, and a reaming nozzle head is attached to thelower end in place of the spear nozzle. The assembly is then raisedgradually or step-wise with the water presdiameter of the initial hole.

sure turned on. The reaming nozzle head comprises a rotor, rotatableabout the axis of the water feed pipe and is a relatively small radialdimension, having about twice to three times the a plurality of reactionnozzles, which impart a relatively high rotary speed, such as about 1000revolutions per minute to the head, and with a scraper on top. Thenozzles discharge jets of water tending upwardly which cut an enlargedwell into the solid material. completed when the nozzle head has reachedthe top of the coke bed. Coke which is cut away or loosened by thenozzle head drops down through the opening into dump cars locatedbeneath the coke chamber, and water is collected by means of a pair ofinclined aprons, which direct it into a It is provided with The secondstep is trough, from which it flows into a settling basin,

for recirculation through the water feed pipe.

In the third step .(which may be begun before the completion of thesecond step), the main body of the coke is disrupted and completelyremoved from the chamber. lowered to extend beneath the coking chamber,the reaming nozzle head is disconnected, and the main nozzle head isattached in its stead. Alternatively, the main nozzle head may becoupled beneath the reaming nozzle head. The main nozzle head isnonrotatably connected to the water feed pipe, and is provided with aplurality of upwardly and with a plurality of downwardly directednozzles which direct jets of water radially outwardly to disrupt andcompletely remove the coke from the chamber when the water supply istumed on and the nozzle head is raised into the enlarged well. Some ofthe nozzles on the main nozzle head are arranged to impart a rotarymotion to the nozzle head, whereby the nozzles assume a plurality ofsuccessive orientations, the rate of rotation being usually regulated bymeans of a brake operating on the water feed pipe so as not to exceed 2to 4 revolutions per minute. If desired, the rotation may be eflected byapplying. an external rotating force on the feed pipe, it being in thiscase unnecessary to arrange the cutting nozzles to impart a turningmoment to the nozzle head.

An object of the present invention is to provide nozzle heads which maybe employed for carrying out the second and third steps of the processesoutlined above. While the nozzle heads described in the presentapplication are particularly adapt- The water feed pipe is again ed forthe removal of carbonaceous material by desired to form an openingthrough a mass of solid material, either continuous or packed, andirrespective of whether the operation results in the complete removal ofthe solid material from the container or merely in the cutting throughof an opening. Another and distinct object is to' provide a composite.nozzle head which will permit the second and third steps of the processto be effected simultaneously, with a single movement of the water feedpipe through the coke bed. Such a nozzle head comprises a plurality ofsections of successively larger radial extent, each section cutting awaya portion of the solid material to permit the following section tooperate without fouling. While it is preferred, for purposes ofconvenience, and to simplify the me chanical arrangement for guiding thewater feed pipe, to effect the above described .second and third stepsby an upward movement of the nozzle head which is suspended by the waterfeed pipe, whereby the rotor section functions as a reamer, it should benoted that it is not necessary to suspend the nozzle head, it being alsopossible to support it and to supply it with water from the bottom andpush it upwardly, in which case the first or cannulating steps may, ifdesired, be

omittedand no reaming action, but a direct hydraulic boring action isefiected by the rotor; or the cannulating may be efiected simultaneouslyby a drill secured to the leading end of the rapidly rotating' head.Finally, the nozzle may be moved downwardly, horizontally, or in aninclined direction, depending upon the material being worked upon orupon the shape and position of the container, with slight mechanicalmodifications, which will be obvious, to permit the pivoted nozzles onthe second cutting section to be,

' in the proper angular position when the nozzle head is inclinedor-inverted, as by attaching springs to urgethe nozzles away from theaxis of the feed pipe,and/or changing the point of attachment of thesuspending cable to the supporting pipe.

The invention resides in the construction and combination of partsdescribed and claimed herein, considered together with the accompanyingdrawings, in which: 1

Figure 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the compositenozzle head, broken to reduce the vertical dimension, the lowest sectionbeing turned through at an angle of 90 for clarity;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the rotor section of the nozzlehead Figures 3 and 4 longitudinal sectional views of nozzles shown inFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional viewof a blind flange;

Figure 6 is a schematic vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,illustrating one .method of using the composite nozzle head of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the rotor section ofthe nozzle head, taken on line 1--1 of Figure 1, the left half of Figure'1 being in elevation;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 1showing the relationship between the downwardly and upwardly disposednozzle on the first and second cutting sections of the nozzle head; i

Figure 9 is a fragmental side elevation view of the bottom of the nozzlehead;

Figure 10 is an elevation view partly in section of the modified form ofthe first cutting section; ,Figure 11 is a fragmental elevation viewtaken at right angles to Figure 10;

to 13. v

Referring to Figure 1, the composite nozzle head comprises three axiallyjuxtaposed sections:

a rotor or uppermost section extending from the threaded upper end of apipe I to a union flange 2; a first cutting or intermediate sectionextending from the union flange 3 to the union flange 4, and a secondcutting or lowermost section extending fromthe union flange 5 to thebottom of the nozzle head. The flanges, which are attached to theadjacent pipes in a suitable manner, for exampleby welding-or by meansof threads, are provided with tongue and groove faces, and held togetherby vertical studs, permitting the facile separation and assembly of thesections. The three sections, when assembled as shown, form a rigidconduit, adapted for attachment at its upper end to a source of fluidunder pressure, and support the rotor and the first and second maincutting nozzles. When the intermediate or lowermost section isdisconnected the blind fiange fi, shown in Figure 5, is afiixed to Thefunction of the, rotor section is to cut a well into the body of solidmaterial of sufiicientsize to permit the first or leading cuttingnozzles to enter the well and cut the material by jets which tend awayfrom the axis of the nozzle head. In the embodiment shown herein, itfunctions as a reamer, by enlarging the initial hole which contains thewater feed pipe; the action mam-however, be mere cutting, as when thenozzle head issupported from the bottom, and no preliminary hole hasbeen formed.

The pipe I is provided with external drill pipe threads at its upperend, adapted for connection with a water feed pipe 1 (Figure 6), andcarries the union flange 2 at its lower end. A plurality of ports 8,staggered at diiferent-levels, permit the radial flow of water from thepipe I. A sleeve tration with ports 8, is secured to the pipe I by meansof set screws II. A pair of ball bearing nests, attached above. andbelow 'the sleeve 9, comprises inner races I2, I3, fixed with respect tothe pipe I, and outer races I4, I5, rotatable with respect thereto. Ahoop IB, secured to the pipe I, lends vertical support to the inner raceI3. The bearings are packed with water proof grease.

A rotatable housing I1 is secured ot the outer races I4 and I5 by meansof a sleeve I8 and a spacing ring I9, heldtogether by a retaining ring20, which is bolted to the housing, I1 by studs 2|. A gasket may beinterposed between the bottom of the housing I1 and the retaining ring.Bronze sleeves 22 and 23 are bolted to the housing I1 and to theretaining. ring 20, respectively; they are provided with annular grooveson their inner faces adjacent the pipe I and coact therewith to preventthe escape of water and bearing lubricant.

Nipples 24 and 25, secured-to the wall of the tially only tangentiallyoutward from the pipe l (this being feasible only when the preliminaryhousing l! by welding at diametrically opposite points, are incommunication with the interior of the housing by means of ports 26 and27, formed through the housing and the sleeve I8, whereby they may besupplied with water from the pipe I. Each nipple carries a stub nozzle28, a 90 L fitting 29 being interposed to permit the angular elevationof the nozzle axis to be selected as desired. By this means the jetsemitted from the nozzle 28 may tend either substantially only in an upwad direction (a slight radial component being necessary for at leastcertain jets to obtain a turning moment); or they may tend substanwellis large enough to permit the rotor to enter the same) or they may tendboth upwardly and outwardly, as shown. In the embodiment illustrated,this elevation is 45 of are above the horizontal, the nozzle axis beingin a plane substantially tangential to the path of the nozzle axis asthe nozzle and housing l'l rotate about the pipe l. A short bar of metalfill may be tack welded to prevent the loosening or accidentaldisturbance of the position of the nozzle. The stub nozzle tip 28, asshown more particularly in Figure 4, has a smooth tapering bore iii ofgradually diminishing convergence, the convergence being about 2 at-theorifice, to emit a powerful, confined jet of water.

A pair of scrapers 32 and 33, isbolted to the housing ll by cap screws36, 35. Each scraper is provided with a plurality of pyramidal tips 3t,31, preferably made of tool steel and heat treated for maximum hardness,and secured to the scrapers by welding their shanks to circular nuts 30.It will be noted that the lateral tips 3i extend radially beyond theradial dimension of the stub nozzles, whereby the fouling of the nozzleson solid material which is not cut away by the ac tion of the hydraulicjet is prevented. Similarly, the vertical tips 36 cut away solids whichbridge the opening and would prevent the rotation of the housing. Thescrapers are provided only for the purpose of preventing the solids frominterfering with the action of the rotor, the primary cutting actionbeing eifected by the hydraulic jets.

The first cutting sec ion (Figures 1, 3 and 8) This section supports thefirst main cutting nozzles, which are the leading main cutting nozzleswhen the nozzle head is moved axially into the body of the solidmaterial.

The seamless pipe M, welded or otherwise attached to the union flange .3is in communica-' tion with the pipe I andwith an enlargement 62. A pairof curved pipes 43 and 44 is Welded to the lower converging portion ofenlargement 42. Each curved pipe carries a long gradually convergingnozzle 45 having its axis inclined downwardly at any desired angle, anangle of about 30 below the horizontal, as shown, having been foundsuitable for cleaning coke chambers, and preferably skew with respect tothe axis of the water feed pipe (Figure 8) whereby the action of thewater will impart a turning movement to the pipes I and M. The nozzles45 constitute the first main cutting nozzles; as shown in Figure 3, eachof them comprises a tapering body portion with a converging bore 46 andan externally threaded coupling portion 41 at its base, having acylindrical recess 48 shaped to retain a bushing 49 carrying axiallyextending straightening vanes 50. It is in most cases important todesign these nozzles, as well as the nozzles l5a, so as to produce a jetwhich will not substantially break up in striking the mass of solidmaterial, such as coke, whereby the cutting action will be at a maximum,since a nozzle head is intended primarily for cutting the solid materialas distinguished from eroding it. A pipe 5| connects the enlargement 52with the union flange 4.

A shield plate 52 of elliptical shape is welded to the upper inclinedsurface of the enlargement 122 and secured to the pipe 5i by a pluralityof radially extending plates 53. The maximum radial external dimensionof the shield plate exceeds slightly the radial distance of the tips of.the nozzles 55 from the axis of the pipe 5!, to prevent solid materialwhich may not have been removed by the rotor from fouling the nozzles atand to deflect solid material cut away by the rotor away from thenozzle.

The second cutting section (Figures 1, 3, 8 and 9) This section supportsthe second main cutting nozzles, which are the trailing main cuttingnozzles when the nozzle head is moved axially into the body of the solidmaterial.

A downwardly extending pipe St is secured at its upper end to the unionflange 5 and at its lower end to an enlargement 55, carrying on eachside thereof a nipple 56 secured to a swivel l. joint 58 at 5?. Theswivel L joint 58 is attached to a curved pipe 59, shaped as shown inFigures 1 and 8. main cutting nozzles, similar to nozzles d5 of Figure 3but longer, are mounted on the ends of the pipes 59 so as to lie in avertical plane including the axis of the pipe a l. The pipes 59 may, ifdesired, each be supported bya Y-connection provided with a pair ofswivels, as is well known in the art. 7

The pipes 59, which may thus be swung about the horizontal axis of thenipples 56 by the action of the joint 58, are normally supported by acollapsible tension stay, such as a chain 69 secured to pipe clamps 6iand 62 to cause the axis of the nozzle 85a to be inclined upwardly atany desired'angle, such as about 45 above the horizontal as shown. Thenozzles Q5 and Mia, are preferably oriented 90 apart as shown in Figure8 (Figure 1 showing the nozzles Mia at an angle of 90 from the correctorientations, for clarity), and the length of the pipe 5! is preferablyselected to cause the jets of water from the nozzle @511 to impinge thewall of the container being cleaned at approximately three feet belowthe Nozzles 35a, constituting the second' dill point of intersection ofthe axes of the downof the container in the specific embodiment shown inFigure '6. The point of impact of the jets from the nozzle @511 to havesubstantially the same ele-' vation as points of intersection of theaxes of nozzles 45 with the container.

Operation (Figure 6) Although the nozzle may be used for other purposes,its use will be described in connection with the cleaning of a coke orreaction chamber. Referring to Figure 6, 63 represents a verticalcylindrical coke chamber of the usual cracking installation which may,for example be 40 feet in the opening closed by attaching the blindflange 6 to the union flange 2. The water feed pipe and the rotorsection; are then raised through the lower manhole 66 and full waterpressure is supplied to the pipe 1 from the top, causing upwardlydirected jets of water to fiow from the stub nozzles 28 and the housing11 to rotate'at a high speed such as, for example, 1000 revolutions perminute. The water jets cut away the coke above the rotor, forming anoperiing'or well iii-somewhat larger than the size of the shield plate52, usually about" 18 to 24 inches in diameter. The pipe and nozzle headare then raised steadily until approximately 3 feet of the well 65 havebeen reamed.

The water is shut off, the feed pipe and rotor section are then lowered,the first cutting section is attached to the union flange 2, the blindflange 6 is secured to the union flange 4, the assembly is raised tobring the nozzle 45 above the neck of the manhole, and water pressure isturned on. The housing l1 continues to rotate and reaming is continuedas describedabove. At the same time confined jets of water issue fromthe nozzles 45, causing the first cutting section to rotateindependently of the rotor section, thereby turning the water feed pipeI to which it is non-rotatably secured. The rate of turning of thecutting section is preferably regulated by means of a brake shoe (notshown) acting on the water feed pipe 1 at a point above the coke chamberso as to cause the rate of turning not to exceed about 2 to 4revolutionsper minute. The rate of tuming, however, depends upon thesize of the chamber being cleaned, it being desirable to regulate therotation so that one complete circular cut into the body of the cokewill be made in each rotation. For. example, a frustro-conical cut 6 or7 inches in depth, extending to or almost to the wall of the chamber,may be made in one revolution. This procedure is followed untilapproximately 5 feet, of coke have beenremoved from the bottom of thechamber.

The water is then shut off, the assembly is lowered through the lowermanhole, the lowermost or secondcutting section is coupled to the unionflange 4 and the pipes 59 are folded upwardly.

, The assembly is then raised, ,the arms 59 assuming the position shownin Figures 1 and 6 after having entered the coke chamber. The completeassembly is raised to a position at which the frustro-conical surface ofrevolution defined by the axis of the nozzles 45 is just below thefrustro-conicalbottom of thecoke body, as shown in Figure 6, full waterpressure is applied and jetting restarted. The, rotor section continuesto rotate at a relatively high speed, and the two cutting sectionsrotate at a slower rotary speed, as described above for the firstcutting section. The nozzles 45 and 45a emitstrong jets which cut awaythe coke, which drops down, usually in lump form, through the lowermanhole, the nozzles 45a completing the'cut of the coke as shown.

It is not necessary to add the sections successively as described above,it being possible to begin with the two upper sections or with all threesections.

Themodified first cutting section (Figures 10, 11,

layers of coke or similar material to be removed in asingle cutting,thereby reducing the time required to empty the chamber.

Referring to these figures, a short seamless pipe 10, secured to theflange 3' (corresponding to the flange 3 of Figure 1) is Welded to andin flow communication with an enlarged hollow housing 1| having asmooth, upwardly convex outside surface, which may be made of caststeel. A cone Ha is formed on the fioor of the housing. Two conduits 12and 13, located at diametrically opposite points, eccentrically locatedwith respect to the axis of the housing are secured to the bottom of thehousing, being joined to a pipe 14, welded or otherwise secured to theflange 4' (corresponding to the flange 4 of Figure 1) and constructed soas to conduct water to the pipe 14.;

A pair of manifolds, in the form of Y-flttings 15, 16 (see Figure 13)are threadedly mounted at the bottom of the housing, circumferentiallyspaced intermediate to the conduits 12, 13, as indicated in Figure 12.The lateral branch 11 of each Y-fitting (which constitutes the upperoutlet of the manifold) is downwardly inclined about 15 below thehorizontal, and the Y-fittings are oriented as shown in Figure, 12, i.e., to lie in a vertical plane making an angle of about 32 with the linejoining the manifolds or Y-fittings. Each lateral branch 11 carries anozzle 45', which may be constructed similarly to the nozzle 45 ofFigure 3, of such a length as to terminate within the verticalprojection of the exterior of the housing II, and between the conduits12, 13, which are bulged outwardly slightly to accomfrom the pipe HI'modate the nozzles. The Y-fittings are secured in the desiredorientation by means of set screws 18.

Each Y-fitting carries a threadedly secured pipe bend 19, surved andoriented to cause the axis of the lower end to be inclined downwardlyabout 15 below the horizontal and to lie in a vertical plane making anangle of about 27 with the line joining the Y-fittings, as shown inFigure 12. A' nozzle 45", similar to the nozzle 45', is attached to eachpipe bend 19. The orientation of the nozzles 45" and the supporting pipebends 19 is maintained by means of set screws 80.

As a consequence of the orientations of the nozzles, the upper pair ofnozzles 45 will impart a counter-clockwise turning moment (as viewedaction will be greaterthan thatof the lower noz-- 'zle s, and theresultant force will rotate the head in a counterclockwise sense. Thisarrangement makes it,possible-to adjust the magnitude of the turningmoment, while providing a considerablelatitude in the orientations ofthe nozzles, since it is possible to change the orientations of all theploy jets of suflicient size to cause an impact of nozzles withoutafiecting the resultant turning moment.

The intermediate cutting section according to Figures 10 to 13 may beoperated in the manner described above for Figure 1, with the exceptionthat two cuts into the solid material to be removed are madesimultaneously, as indicated schematically in Figure 14. In this figure,reference characters are similar to those appearing in Figure 6. It willbe noted that the housing H acts as a shield plate to protect thenozzles 55 and 35 from falling material. The length of the pipe id ispreferably selected so that the relationship between the lower nozzles6b" and the nozzles 25a is as described heretofore for the nozzles 55and 65a.

The sizes of the nozzles and rates of discharge may be varied with thesize of the installation and the particular purpose to be effected. Byway of example, it may be stated that for clean ing a coke chamber ofthe type and size described above, the external diameters of the rotorsection including the scrapers, and of the shield plate 52 may be 14inches, and it is desirable to employ stub nozzles 28 with inch diameterorifices, about 1 /2 to 2 inches in length; nozzles 55 with inchdiameter orifices, about 8 inches long; and nozzles lfia with inchdiameter orifices, about 12 inches long. In the modified form shown inFigures 10 to 13, the external diameter of the housing ll may be 10%inches, and thenozzles t5 and d5 may be 6 inches long, with inchorifices. Suificient water pressure is then supplied to cause the totalrate of discharge to be between about 400 and 900 gallons per minute.

With regard to the design of the nozzles, and especially of the maincutting nozzles 65, ,65', Q5" and 45a, particularly when working onporous or carbonaceous material, it may be stated that the disruptionand removal of the solid matter is preferably brought about primarily bythe cutting action of the jets. This cutting action is effected bydirecting the water jet so as to cause a great impact or reaction on thebody of solid material over as small an area as possible. In this mannerthe primary action of the water is to cut the solid material into lumps,and erosion is minimized. For the main cutting action, I

prefer to employ water jets which have velocities of more than about 200feet per second, best results being obtained with velocities of about300 to 500 feet per second and higher, and which jets are confined. Byconfined jets, I mean jets which do not substantially break up or spreadprior to impact. It is, moreover, desirable to emmore than 100 lbs.,best results being obtained with jets having impacts between 200 and 300a velocity of 380 feet per second.

lbs. or greater. When lower velocities are employed, or when the designof the nozzle is such as to cause the jet to break up or spread thecutting action is materially reduced and erosion is increased. Thismaterially increases the time required for the removal of the solid andis, moreover, often undesirable, since it is frequently advantageous toproduce maximum lump and egg size coke. As an example, I may employ ajet of water from a inch diameter nozzle, with Such a jet will cause animpact of about 212 lbs. over an area only slightly larger than 0.11 sq.in., the diameter of the nozzle orifice. I am, however, not restrictedto the use of the specific dimensions, orientations, inclinations, andvelocities, or to the use of the nozzles which produce confined jets, aspreviously described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a nozzle head for cutting into a body of solid materiaL-thecombination of conduit means adapted for axial connection with asourceof liquid under pressure, a rotor rotatably mounted on said conduitmeans near a first end thereof, reaction nozzle means onsaid rotor inflow communication with said conduit means and disposed to impart aturning motion to said rotor, one or more leading main cutting nozzlesand one or more trailing main cutting nozzles in flow communication withand mounted on said conduit means towards the other end of the conduitmeans from said rotor and disposed and constructed to dischargesubstantially confined jets of liquid, each jet tending outwardly fromthe axis of the nozzle head, the trailing main cutting nozzles beingradially more distant from the said axis and axially further away fromthe rotor than the leading main cutting nozzles, said nozzle means onthe rotor being arranged to discharge liquid in jet form tending in adirection to out a well into said material of a diameter sufiicient topermit said leading main cutting nozzles to enter the well withoutfouling, when the nozzle head is moved axially into the body of solidmaterial in the direction of said first end.

2. In a nozzle head for cutting into a body of solid material, thecombination of a conduit means adapted for axial connection with asource of liquid under pressure, comprising three axially juxtaposedsections, coupling means connecting said sections, a rotor on the firstend section rotatable with respect to the other sections, reactionnozzle means on said rotor in flow communication with said conduit meansand disposed to impart a turning motion to said rotor, one or more firstmain cutting nozzles in fiow communication with and mounted on theintermediate section constructed and disposed to discharge jets ofliquid, each jet tending outwardly from the axis of the nozzle head,said nozzle means on the rotor being arranged to discharge water in jetform tending in a direction to cut a well into said material ofsuiiicient diameter to permit said first main cutting nozzles to enterthe well without fouling when the nozzle head is moved axially into thebody of solid material in the direction of said first end, one or moresecond main cutting nozzles in fiow communication with and supported bythe second end section, said second main cutting nozzles being normallyradially 'more distant from the said axis than the first main cuttingnozzles, and constructed and disposed to discharge jets of liquid, eachjet tending outwardly from the said axis, and pivot means having asubstantial horizontal pivotal axis and interposed between the secondmain cutting nozzles and the second end section of the conduit means,permitting the nozzle to be swung toward said axis.

3. In a nozzle head for cutting through a body tion comprising ahousing, a plurality of spaced,

eccentrically located supports extending from the bottom of said housingconnecting the housing to said coupling and'arranged to establish flowcommunication between said housing and the lower section, one or moreeccentrically located manifolds depending from said housing, a plurality6 k of first cutting nozzles on each manifold spaced in the direction ofthe axis of the nozzle head, said nozzles being located between saidsupports and being constructed and disposed to discharge substantiallyconfined jetsof liquid tending outwards from the axis of the nozzlehead, at leastsome nozzles being skew with respect-to the axis, wherebya turning moment is imparted to said nozzle head, one or, more inclinedpipes pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower section,non-rotatable with respect to the said lower section and in fiowcommunication with the condu'it means, collapsible means to limit theoutward pivotal movement of said inclined, pipes away from said axis, asecond cutting nozzle on each pipe constructed and disposed to dischargea substantially' confined jet of liquid tending outwards from the saidaxis.

. 4. In 'a nozzle head for cutting through a body of solid material, thecombination of a housing adapted for connection with a source of liquidunder pressure, a plurality of conduits in com- 6. In a nozzle head forcutting through a body of solid material, the combination of a housingadapted for connection with a source of liquid under pressure, a pair ofmanifolds in communication therewith extending axially from one end ofthe housing and located eccentrically with respect to the axis of thehousing and at diametrically opposite points, a first pair ofsubstantially parallel elongated nozzles mounted one on each manifoldnear the housing disposed generally radially inwardly from saideccentric manifolds but making an angle greater than zero with an axialplane containing the line joining said manifolds to discharge jets ofwater tending away from said axis, and-a second pair of elongatednozzles mounted one 'on each manifold further awayfrom the housingthansaid first pair of nozzlesdisposed generally inwardly from saideccentric manifolds to discharge jets of water tending away from said,axis.

7. The nozzle head according to claim 6 in which the nozzle-s ofthe-second pair are substantially parallel to one another, and thesecond nozzles are disposed in a different direction from the anglebetween the first pair of nozzles and an axial plane containing the linejoining said manifolds, whereby a turning momentWill be imparted to saidnozzle head upon the fiow of liquid through the nozzles.

8. In a nozzle head for cutting into a body of solid material, thecombination of a conduit means adapted for axial connection with .a

'. source of liquid under pressure, a rotor rotatablymounted on saidconduit means near a first end thereof, reaction nozzle means on saidrotor in flow communication with said conduit means and disposed toimpart a turning motion to said rotor, one or more leading main cuttingnozzles and one or more trailing mean cutting nozzles mounted on and inflow communication with said conduit means towards the other end ofthe'conduit means from said rotor and arranged and constructed todischarge substantially confined jets of liquid, each jet tendingoutwardly from the axis of the nozzle head, the

said nozzle means on the rotor being arranged .to discharge liquid injet form in a direction to cut a well into said body of a diameters'ufficient to permit at least the leading main nozzles nearest to saidwell to enter the well without fouling when the nozzle head is movedaxially into the body ofsolid material.

9. In a nozzle head for cutting intoa body of solid material whichcontains a vertical opening therethrough, the combination of a conduitmeans adapted for axial connection at its upper end with a liquid feedpipe suspended through. said vertical opening, said conduit meanscomprising three axially juxtaposed sections, coupling means connectingsaid sections, a hollow rotor rotatablymounted on and housing a portionof the upper section, ports in the upper section located to permitliquid to flow from the conduit into the rotor, a plurality of reactionnozzles mounted on said rotor and in flow communication therewith, eachnozzle being disposed to direct a jet of liquid away from the axis ofthe nozzle head and upwardly, whereby the fiow of liquid therethrough.will cause the rotation of the rotor and the enlargement of saidverticalopening above the rotor, a scraper mounted'ontop of said rotor andextending radially at least as far as the radial extent of said reactionnozzles; a plurality of elongated first main cutting nozzles mounted onand non-rotatable with respect to the intermediate section of saidconduit means, shield means above said first cutting nozzles extendingradially at least as far as the radial extent of the first cuttingnozzles and being small enough to enter a well formed into the body ofsolid material by the,

rotor and a plurality of second main cutting nozzles mounted on andnon-rotatable with respect to the lower section of said conduit means.

10. In a nozzle head for cutting into a body of solid material, thecombination of a conduit means adapted for axial connection with asource of liquid under pressure, comprising three axially juxtaposedsections, coupling means connecting said sections, a rotor on the firstend section rotatable with respect to the other sections, reactionnozzle means on said rotor in flow communication with said conduit meansand disposed to impart a turning motion to said rotor; the intermediatesection comprising an enlarged hollow housing, a plurality of spaced,

eccentrically located conduits extending from the jets of liquid tendingdownwards and outwards from the axis of the nozzle head and skew withrespect thereto, whereby a turning moment is to limit the radial swingto a predetermined position connected at their lower ends to the lowerimparted to said conduit means by the flow of section, non-rotatablewith respect to and in" flow communication with the conduit means, andan elongated second main cutting nozzle on each pipe constructed anddisposed to discharge a substantially confined jet of liquid tendingupwards and outwards from the said axis.

11. In a nozzle head for cutting through a body of solid material thecombination of a conduit means adapted for axial connection with asource of liquid under pressure, one or more first cutting nozzlesnon-rotatable with respect to and mounted on said conduit in flowcommunication therewith, constructed and disposed to dischargesubstantially confined jets of liquid outwardly from the axis of thenozzle head, and one or more second cutting nozzles freely pivotableabout a substantially horizontal axis and having means to limit theradial swing to a predetermined position, non-rotatable with respect toand mounted on said conduit 'in flow communication therewith, saidsecond cutting nozzles beingradially more distant from the said axisthan the first cutting nozzles, being spaced axially therefrom, andbeing constructed and disposed to discharge substantially confined jetsof liquid outwardly and upwardly from the said axis and lyingsubstantially in a surface of revolutions which intersects the surfaceof revolution containing the jets of at least some of the first cuttingnozzles in a closed curve spaced from and surrounding said axis.

WILLIAM FREDERICK COURT.

